New Cal Poly store just opened on a prime corner in downtown SLO. See inside
Cal Poly’s new San Luis Obispo shop is finally up and running — this time on an even more visible downtown corner.
After nearly two years of development and construction, the Mustang Shop officially opened at 1144 Chorro St. in mid-April, according to Ellen Curtis, associate executive director of marketing and communications at Cal Poly Partners.
The store and the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship both moved into the vacant 24,000-square-foot property as part of an effort to “revitalize” the massive, under-used space right in the heart of downtown.
“The move provided the opportunity to reside in a larger, more visible space in a high-traffic area of downtown,” Curtis said. “The new shop is adjacent to one of the busiest parking structures, making it more accessible to both locals and visitors. It also shares space with the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which creates a unique connection between retail, community engagement and the university’s broader mission.”
The long-vacant property last housed Sports Authority, but longtime SLO residents might remember it more as the former home of Copeland Sports and Riley’s Department Store.
The larger space also puts the Mustang Shop — which has been downtown since 1993 — in a much more prominent space.
“The new location offers a slightly larger footprint and an updated interior that better showcases Cal Poly merchandise,” Curtis said. “It also provides improved visibility, both inside the store and from the street, making it more inviting and easier to find.”
Curtis said the new store will continue to sell everything the former location at 767 Higuera St. did, from Cal Poly branded sweatshirts, hats, accessories and trinkets to student-made goods like jams, olive oil and cheeses.
Curtis said one new addition will be Cal Poly ice cream, which is developed and made by students at the university’s Creamery facility.
Meanwhile, the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship has also moved its hothouse into its new Chorro Street home, bringing expanded coworking opportunities and more space for local entrepreneurs.
The center’s HotHouse, which has had space downtown since 2015, is aimed at helping students and community members as they workshop business ideas and pursue startups.
According to a Cal Poly news release, the new space was expected to offer “expanded coworking capabilities,” including hot desks, dedicated desks, private offices and meeting rooms, as well as a new event space for networking events and meet-ups. It will also feature expanded spaces for companies to test their products with local customers through retail popups, the release said.
For more information
The Mustang Shop downtown is open Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., with extra late hours until 8 p.m. on Thursday during Farmers Market. It’s also open Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information, visit the Cal Poly Bookstore website at bkstr.com/calpolystore.
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